U.S. patent application number 15/806451 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-10 for mobile terminal providing content related to beverage-making of a beverage-making apparatus and a recording medium recording a program performing a method of providing the content.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Hyungsun KIM, Mina SUH.
Application Number | 20180129361 15/806451 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60409133 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180129361 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUH; Mina ; et al. |
May 10, 2018 |
MOBILE TERMINAL PROVIDING CONTENT RELATED TO BEVERAGE-MAKING OF A
BEVERAGE-MAKING APPARATUS AND A RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING A
PROGRAM PERFORMING A METHOD OF PROVIDING THE CONTENT
Abstract
A mobile terminal includes: a wireless communication unit
configured to communicate with a beverage-making apparatus; a
display unit; and at least one processor. The at least one
processor is configured to: receive, through the wireless
communication unit, beverage-making state information indicating a
state of the beverage-making apparatus; and generate content to be
output through the display unit, based on the received
beverage-making state information of the beverage-making
apparatus.
Inventors: |
SUH; Mina; (Seoul, KR)
; KIM; Hyungsun; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
60409133 |
Appl. No.: |
15/806451 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 31/525 20180801;
G06F 3/0481 20130101; A47J 31/52 20130101; A47J 31/44 20130101;
G07F 17/0064 20130101; C12C 13/10 20130101; G06Q 20/12 20130101;
A47J 31/521 20180801; H04M 1/7253 20130101; G07F 13/065 20130101;
A47J 31/5253 20180801 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0481 20060101
G06F003/0481; A47J 31/44 20060101 A47J031/44; H04M 1/725 20060101
H04M001/725 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016- 0149575 |
Claims
1. A mobile terminal comprising: a wireless communication unit
configured to communicate with a beverage-making apparatus; a
display unit; and at least one processor configured to: receive,
through the wireless communication unit, beverage-making state
information indicating a state of the beverage-making apparatus;
and generate content to be output through the display unit, based
on the received beverage-making state information of the
beverage-making apparatus.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the beverage-making
state information comprises information related to whether the
beverage-making apparatus is currently performing a beverage-making
process.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the beverage-making
state information indicates that the beverage-making apparatus is
in one of a first state that is prior to the beverage-making
process, a second state that is during the beverage-making process,
or a third state that is after the beverage-making process.
4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the
first state that is prior to the beverage-making process: generate
the content to comprise first content for guiding the
beverage-making process, based on information that is stored in the
mobile terminal or that is received from at least one computer
communicative with the mobile terminal; and display the generated
first content through the display unit.
5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to generate the first content for guiding
the beverage-making process, based on the information that is
stored in the mobile terminal or that is received from at least one
computer communicative with the mobile terminal by: calculating a
beverage-making start term, based on a start date of schedule
information that is stored in the mobile terminal or that is
received from the at least one computer; and generate the first
content comprising the calculated beverage-making start term.
6. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein, based on the
beverage-making state information indicating that the
beverage-making apparatus is in the second state that is during the
beverage-making process, the beverage-making state information
further comprises at least one of information regarding a type or
an ingredient of the beverage being made, or information regarding
a beverage-making progress degree of the beverage, and wherein the
at least one processor is configured to, based on the
beverage-making state information indicating that the
beverage-making apparatus is in the second state that is during the
beverage-making process: generate the content depending on the type
of the beverage being made in the beverage-making process and
depending on at least one of the ingredient of the beverage being
made or the beverage-making progress degree of the beverage
indicated in the beverage-making state information; and display the
generated content through the display unit.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the
second state that is during the beverage-making process: generate
the content to comprise second content regarding food that is
matched to the beverage being made or information regarding the
beverage-making progress degree; and display the generated second
content through the display unit.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the
third state that is after the beverage-making process: transmit, to
at least one computer connected to the mobile terminal, information
regarding the beverage-making process that is generated after the
beverage-making process has completed.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the least one processor
is configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the third state
that is after the beverage-making process: generate the content to
comprise at least one of first content related to a review of the
beverage made during the beverage-making process, second content
for guiding a user to purchase at least one ingredient for the
beverage made during the beverage-making process, or third content
related to a beverage-making history of the user; and display the
generated content comprising at least one of the first content, the
second content, or the third content through the display unit.
10. At least one non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
encoded with at least one computer program comprising instructions
that, when executed, operate to cause a mobile terminal
communicative with a beverage-making apparatus to perform
operations comprising: connecting the mobile terminal to the
beverage-making apparatus; receiving, from the beverage-making
apparatus, beverage-making state information indicating a state of
the beverage-making apparatus; generating content based on the
received beverage-making state information of the beverage-making
apparatus; and displaying the generated content through a display
unit of the mobile terminal.
11. The at least one computer-readable recording medium of claim
10, wherein the beverage-making state information indicates that
the beverage-making apparatus is in one of a first state that is
prior to a beverage-making process, a second state that is during
the beverage-making process, or a third state that is after the
beverage-making process.
12. The at least one computer-readable recording medium of claim
11, wherein generating the content based on the received
beverage-making state information of the beverage-making apparatus
comprises: based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the first state
that is prior to the beverage-making process, generating first
content for guiding the beverage-making process, based on
information that is stored in the mobile terminal or that is
received from at least computer communicative with the mobile
terminal.
13. The at least one computer-readable recording medium of claim
11, wherein, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the second
state that is during the beverage-making process, the
beverage-making state information further comprises at least one of
information regarding a type or an ingredient of the beverage being
made, or information regarding a beverage-making progress degree of
the beverage-making apparatus, and wherein generating the content
based on the received beverage-making state information of the
beverage-making apparatus comprises: generating the content
depending on the type of the beverage being made in the
beverage-making process and depending on at least one of the
ingredient of the beverage being made or the beverage-making
progress degree of the beverage-making apparatus indicated in the
beverage-making state information.
14. A mobile terminal comprising: a wireless communication unit
configured to communicate with a beverage-making apparatus; a
display unit; and at least one processor configured to: receive,
through the wireless communication unit, beverage-making state
information indicating a state of the beverage-making apparatus;
generate content based on the received beverage-making state
information of the beverage-making apparatus; and output the
generated content through the display unit, wherein the
beverage-making state information indicates one of a first state in
which the beverage-making apparatus is currently performing a
beverage-making process, or a second state in which the
beverage-making apparatus is not currently performing the
beverage-making process, wherein the at least one processor is
further configured to, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating the first state in which the beverage-making
apparatus is currently performing the beverage-making process:
generate the content based on information received from the
beverage-making apparatus regarding the beverage-making process
being performed.
15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the information
received from the beverage-making apparatus regarding the
beverage-making process comprises information regarding a type or
an ingredient of the beverage being made, and wherein the at least
one processor is configured to generate the content according to
the type or the ingredient of the beverage being made that is
indicated in the information received from the beverage-making
apparatus.
16. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to generate the content according to the
type or the ingredient of the beverage being made by: generating
first content that comprises information regarding a food that is
matched to the type or the ingredient of the beverage being
made.
17. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the information
received from the beverage-making apparatus regarding the
beverage-making process comprises information regarding a
beverage-making progress degree of the beverage-making apparatus,
and wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate
the content by generating second content that indicates the
beverage-making progress degree of the beverage-making
apparatus.
18. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating that the beverage-making process has been
completed by the beverage-making apparatus: transmit, to one or
more computers that are communicative with the mobile terminal,
information regarding the beverage-making process that is generated
after the beverage-making process is completed.
19. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the at least one
processor is configured to, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating the second state in which the
beverage-making apparatus is not currently performing the
beverage-making process: generate the content based on information
that is stored in the mobile terminal or that is received from one
or more computers that are communicative with the mobile
terminal.
20. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the generated content
comprises a first content for guiding the beverage-making process
or a second content related to a user review of a beverage made by
the beverage-making process.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 365
to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0149575, filed on Nov. 10,
2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a mobile
terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal that is
communicative with a beverage-making apparatus and provides
information related to beverage-making operations of the
beverage-making apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Beer is an alcoholic beverage brewed by filtering wort made
with malt made from germinated barley, adding hops to the wort, and
then fermenting the wort with yeast.
[0004] Various types of beverages are made via fermentation. Such
beverages are typically made using ingredients that are combined
and fermented to yield the resulting beverage. As an example, beer
is an alcoholic beverage that is brewed by filtering wort, adding
hops to the wort, and then fermenting the resulting wort mixture
with yeast. Wort is typically made with malt, which is made from
germinated barley.
[0005] Ingredients for brewing beer typically include water, malt,
hops, yeast, flavor additives, and the like. The yeast is often
referred to as leaven, and is typically added to malt to induce
fermentation. The yeast may also facilitate the generation of
alcohol and carbon dioxide (or carbonic acid). In some scenarios,
flavor additives are added that improve the taste of beer, such as
fruit, syrup, and vanilla bean additives.
SUMMARY
[0006] Implementations described herein provide a mobile terminal
configured to provide various types of information based on an
operation state of a beverage-making apparatus.
[0007] In one aspect, a mobile terminal includes: a wireless
communication unit configured to communicate with a beverage-making
apparatus; a display unit; and at least one processor. The at least
one processor is configured to: receive, through the wireless
communication unit, beverage-making state information indicating a
state of the beverage-making apparatus; and generate content to be
output through the display unit, based on the received
beverage-making state information of the beverage-making
apparatus.
[0008] In some implementations, the beverage-making state
information includes information related to whether the
beverage-making apparatus is currently performing a beverage-making
process.
[0009] In some implementations, the beverage-making state
information indicates that the beverage-making apparatus is in one
of a first state that is prior to the beverage-making process, a
second state that is during the beverage-making process, or a third
state that is after the beverage-making process.
[0010] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the first state
prior to the beverage-making process: generate the content to
include first content for guiding the beverage-making process,
based on information that is stored in the mobile terminal or that
is received from at least one computer communicative with the
mobile terminal; and display the generated first content through
the display unit.
[0011] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to generate the first content for guiding the
beverage-making process, based on the information that is stored in
the mobile terminal or that is received from at least one computer
communicative with the mobile terminal by: calculating a
beverage-making start term, based on a start date of schedule
information that is stored in the mobile terminal or that is
received from the at least one computer; and generate the first
content including the calculated beverage-making start term.
[0012] In some implementations, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the
second state that is during the beverage-making process, the
beverage-making state information further includes at least one of
information regarding a type or an ingredient of the beverage being
made, or information regarding a beverage-making progress degree of
the beverage. The at least one processor is configured to, based on
the beverage-making state information indicating that the
beverage-making apparatus is in the second state that is during the
beverage-making process: generate the content depending on the type
of the beverage being made in the beverage-making process and
depending on at least one of the ingredient of the beverage being
made or the beverage-making progress degree of the beverage
indicated in the beverage-making state information; and display the
generated content through the display unit.
[0013] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the second
state that is during the beverage-making process: generate the
content to include second content regarding food that is matched to
the beverage being made or information regarding the
beverage-making progress degree; and display the generated second
content through the display unit.
[0014] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the third state
that is after the beverage-making process: transmit, to at least
one computer connected to the mobile terminal, information
regarding the beverage-making process that is generated after the
beverage-making process has completed.
[0015] In some implementations, the least one processor is
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the third state
that is after the beverage-making process: generate the content to
include at least one of first content related to a review of the
beverage made during the beverage-making process, second content
for guiding a user to purchase at least one ingredient for the
beverage made during the beverage-making process, or third content
related to a beverage-making history of the user; and display the
generated content including at least one of the first content, the
second content, or the third content through the display unit.
[0016] In another aspect, at least one non-transitory
computer-readable recording medium is encoded with at least one
computer program including instructions that, when executed,
operate to cause a mobile terminal communicative with a
beverage-making apparatus to perform operations including:
connecting the mobile terminal to the beverage-making apparatus;
receiving, from the beverage-making apparatus, beverage-making
state information indicating a state of the beverage-making
apparatus; generating content based on the received beverage-making
state information of the beverage-making apparatus; and displaying
the generated content through a display unit of the mobile
terminal.
[0017] In some implementations, the beverage-making state
information indicates that the beverage-making apparatus is in one
of a first state that is prior to the beverage-making process, a
second state that is during the beverage-making process, or a third
state that is after the beverage-making process.
[0018] In some implementations, generating the content based on the
received beverage-making state information of the beverage-making
apparatus includes: based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the first state
prior to the beverage-making process, generating the first content
for guiding the beverage-making process, based on information that
is stored in the mobile terminal or that is received from at least
computer communicative with the mobile terminal.
[0019] In some implementations, based on the beverage-making state
information indicating that the beverage-making apparatus is in the
second state that is during the beverage-making process, the
beverage-making state information further includes at least one of
information regarding a type or an ingredient of the beverage being
made, or information regarding a beverage-making progress degree of
the beverage-making apparatus, and wherein generating the content
based on the received beverage-making state information of the
beverage-making apparatus includes: generating the content
depending on the type of the beverage being made in the
beverage-making process and depending on at least one of the
ingredient of the beverage being made or the beverage-making
progress degree of the beverage-making apparatus indicated in the
beverage-making state information.
[0020] In another aspect, a mobile terminal includes: a wireless
communication unit configured to communicate with a beverage-making
apparatus; a display unit; and at least one processor. The at least
one processor is configured to: receive, through the wireless
communication unit, beverage-making state information indicating a
state of the beverage-making apparatus; generate content based on
the received beverage-making state information of the
beverage-making apparatus; and output the generated content through
the display unit. The beverage-making state information indicates
one of a first state in which the beverage-making apparatus is
currently performing a beverage-making process, or a second state
in which the beverage-making apparatus is not currently performing
the beverage-making process. The at least one processor is further
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating the first state in which the beverage-making apparatus
is currently performing the beverage-making process: generate the
content based on information received from the beverage-making
apparatus regarding the beverage-making process being
performed.
[0021] In some implementations, the information received from the
beverage-making apparatus regarding the beverage-making process
includes information regarding a type or an ingredient of the
beverage being made, and the at least one processor is configured
to generate the content according to the type or the ingredient of
the beverage being made that is indicated in the information
received from the beverage-making apparatus.
[0022] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to generate the content according to the type or the
ingredient of the beverage being made by: generating first content
that includes information regarding a food that is matched to the
type or the ingredient of the beverage being made.
[0023] In some implementations, the information received from the
beverage-making apparatus regarding the beverage-making process
includes information regarding a beverage-making progress degree of
the beverage-making apparatus, and the at least one processor is
configured to generate the content by generating second content
that indicates the beverage-making progress degree of the
beverage-making apparatus.
[0024] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating that the beverage-making process has been completed by
the beverage-making apparatus: transmit, to one or more computers
that are communicative with the mobile terminal, information
regarding the beverage-making process that is generated after the
beverage-making process is completed.
[0025] In some implementations, the at least one processor is
configured to, based on the beverage-making state information
indicating the second state in which the beverage-making apparatus
is not currently performing the beverage-making process: generate
the content based on information that is stored in the mobile
terminal or that is received from one or more computers that are
communicative with the mobile terminal.
[0026] In some implementations, the generated content includes a
first content for guiding the beverage-making process or a second
content related to a user review of a beverage made by the
beverage-making process.
[0027] Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure
will become apparent from the detailed description given
hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed
description and specific examples are given by of illustration
only, and that various changes and modifications within the spirit
and scope of the disclosure may be made.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an entire
configuration view of a beverage-making apparatus according to some
implementations;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective
view of the beverage-making apparatus according to some
implementations;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a perspective
view illustrating an inside of the beverage-making apparatus
according to some implementations;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a front view
illustrating an inside of the beverage-making apparatus according
to some implementations;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system
including a beverage-making apparatus and a mobile terminal
connected to the beverage-making apparatus according to some
implementations;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a
mobile terminal according to some implementations;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operating
the mobile terminal according to an implementation;
[0035] FIGS. 8A and 8B are flowcharts illustrating examples of a
mobile terminal generating content based on an operation state of
the beverage-making apparatus, according to implementations;
[0036] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating examples of
content provided by a mobile terminal when the operation state of
the beverage-making apparatus is prior to a beverage-making
process;
[0037] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of
content provided by a mobile terminal when the operation state of
the beverage-making apparatus is during a beverage-making
process;
[0038] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of content
provided by a mobile terminal when the operation state of the
beverage-making apparatus is after a beverage-making process;
and
[0039] FIGS. 12 to 14 are diagrams illustrating other examples of
content provided by a mobile terminal, based on the operation state
of the beverage-making apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] Implementations described herein provide a mobile terminal
configured to provide various types of information based on an
operation state of a beverage-making apparatus. In some
implementations, the mobile terminal is configured to guide one or
more operations of beverage-making using the beverage-making
apparatus, based on information regarding scheduling or events of a
user. As such, implementations may increase the utility and
convenience of using a beverage-making apparatus.
[0041] In some scenarios, the mobile terminal may help improve
satisfaction of a user with respect to a beverage-making apparatus
by providing useful information related to a beverage being made
through the beverage-making apparatus.
[0042] As such, even if a user lacks knowledge about making
beverages using a beverage-making apparatus, implementations
disclosed herein can effectively provide the user with useful
information related to beverages made using the beverage-making
apparatus.
[0043] According to some implementations of the present disclosure,
the mobile terminal generates various types of content, based on an
operation state of the beverage-making apparatus, so that content
suitable for the operation state of the beverage-maker can be
provided to a user.
[0044] Particularly, in some implementations, before beginning a
beverage-making process of the beverage-making apparatus, the
mobile terminal provides content for guiding the user to perform
the beverage-making process, so that the user can conveniently
determine a beverage-making time or make a desired beverage, based
on the provided content.
[0045] In some implementations, during a beverage-making process of
the beverage-making apparatus, the mobile terminal may provide
various useful information related to the beverage being made, such
as a state of the beverage-making process and information related
to food matched to the beverage being made. Accordingly, the
utility of the beverage-making apparatus can be improved, and
satisfaction of the user can also be improved.
[0046] One example of a beverage-making apparatus is a beer-maker,
which may be used in homes. Typically, house beer may include a
total of three steps, i.e., a wort producing step, a fermenting
step, and a ripening step, and two weeks to three weeks may be
required from the wort producing step to the ripening step. In some
scenarios, a beverage-making apparatus can be configured to
conveniently regulate a temperature for beer fermentation.
[0047] Hereinafter, exemplary implementations of the present
disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0048] Some of the examples below describe a scenario in which the
beverage-making apparatus is specifically a beer-making apparatus.
However, implementations are not limited thereto, and may be
implemented as any suitable beverage making apparatus that utilizes
fermentation.
[0049] FIG. 1 is an entire configuration view of a beverage maker
according to an implementation.
[0050] The beverage making apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, may
include a fermentation module 1, an ingredient supplier 3 (or
simply, supplier 3) connected to the fermentation module 1 through
a main channel 2 (also referred to as main flow path 2), a water
supply module 5 connected to the supplier 3 through a water supply
channel 4 (also referred to as water supply flow path 4), and a
beverage extractor 6 that allows a beverage fermented in the
fermentation module 1 to be extracted to the outside.
[0051] The fermentation module 1 includes a container, for example
fermentation tank assembly 11, having a space S1 formed therein.
The container may include a container body, such as fermentation
tank 112, and a container cover, such as fermentation tank cover
114.
[0052] In the example of FIG. 1, the fermentation tank assembly 11
includes a fermentation tank 112 has an opening 111 formed at an
upper portion thereof, the fermentation tank 112 having the space
S1 formed therein, and a fermentation tank cover 114 covering the
opening 111.
[0053] The fermentation tank 112 may be configured as an assembly
of a plurality of members.
[0054] The fermentation tank cover 114 is used to seal the inside
of the fermentation tank 112, and may be disposed at an upper
portion of the fermentation tank 112 to cover the opening 111. A
main flow path connecting part 115 connected to the main flow path
2 may be formed in the fermentation tank cover 114.
[0055] In addition, the fermentation module 1 may further include a
removable beverage ingredient pack 12 that holds at least some of
the ingredients for making the beverage. As shown in the example of
FIG. 1, the beverage ingredient pack 12 may be a beverage
ingredient pack that is inserted and accommodated in the
fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0056] In this example, the beverage ingredient pack 12 may be a
pack in which ingredients for brewing a beverage are accommodated.
The following description will focus on the scenario of a beverage
brewing pack 12 as the beverage ingredient pack, although
implementations may be applied to any suitable beverage ingredient
pack utilized for fermentation.
[0057] The beverage brewing pack 12 may be formed smaller than the
space S1 formed in the fermentation tank assembly 11. The beverage
brewing pack 12 may be inserted and accommodated in the
fermentation tank assembly 11 in a state in which the ingredients
are accommodated therein. The beverage brewing pack may be inserted
into the fermentation tank 112 to be accommodated in the
fermentation tank 112 in a state in which the opening 111 of the
fermentation tank 112 is opened. The fermentation tank cover 114
may cover the opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112 after the
beverage brewing pack 12 is inserted into the fermentation tank
112. The beverage brewing pack 12 may assist the ingredients to be
fermented in a state in which the beverage brewing pack 12 is
accommodated in the space S1 sealed by the fermentation tank 112
and the fermentation tank cover 114. The beverage brewing pack 12
may be expanded by a pressure therein while the beverage is being
brewed.
[0058] As an example, in the case where the beverage is beer, the
ingredients for brewing the beer may include water, malt, yeast,
hops, flavor additives, and the like.
[0059] The beverage maker may include both of the supplier 3 and
the beverage ingredient pack 12, and the ingredients for brewing
the beverage may be distributed and accommodated in the supplier 3
and the beverage ingredient pack 12. Some ingredients among the
ingredients for brewing the beverage may be accommodated in the
beverage ingredient pack 12, and the other ingredients may be
accommodated in the supplier 3. The other ingredients accommodated
in the supplier 3 may be supplied to the beverage ingredient pack
12 together with water supplied from the water supply module 5, and
be mixed with the ingredients accommodated in the beverage
ingredient pack 12.
[0060] A main ingredient essential to brew the beverage may be
accommodated in the beverage ingredient pack 12, and additives
added to the main ingredient may be accommodated in the supplier 3.
In this case, the additives accommodated in the supplier 3 may be
mixed with the water supplied from the water supply module 5 to be
supplied to the beverage ingredient pack 12, and be mixed with the
main ingredient accommodated in the beverage ingredient pack
12.
[0061] The main ingredient accommodated in the beverage ingredient
pack 12 is an ingredient having a larger volume than the other
ingredients, and may be, in the case of beer, the malt among the
malt, the yeast, the hops, and the flavor additives. In addition,
the additives accommodated in the supplier 3 may be the other
ingredients except the malt among the ingredient for brewing the
beer, and be the yeast, the hops, the flavor additives, and the
like.
[0062] In some implementations, the beverage maker does not include
both of the beverage ingredient pack 12 and the supplier 3 as
described above, but may include only the supplier 3 without any
separate beverage ingredient pack 12. All of the ingredients for
brewing the beverage may be accommodated in the supplier 3. In this
case, all of the ingredients accommodated in the supplier 3 may be
supplied to the inside of the fermentation tank assembly 11
together with the water supplied from the water supply module 5.
The main ingredient and the additives may be accommodated together
in the supplier 3. The main ingredient and additives, which are
accommodated in the supplier 3, may be simultaneously supplied to
the inside of the fermentation tank assembly 11 or be sequentially
supplied with a time difference.
[0063] In addition, the beverage maker does not include any
separate beverage ingredient pack 12, but may directly inject some
ingredients among the ingredients for brewing the beverage into the
fermentation tank assembly 11 and allow the other ingredients for
brewing the beverage to be accommodated in the supplier 3. In this
case, a user may directly inject the main ingredient into the
fermentation tank assembly 11, and the additives may be
accommodated in the supplier 3. The additives accommodated in the
supplier 3 may be mixed with the water supplied from the water
supply module 5, and be mixed with the main ingredient previously
injected into the fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0064] In addition, the beverage maker does not include the
supplier 3, but may include the beverage ingredient pack 12. In
this case, the main ingredient may be accommodated in the beverage
ingredient pack 12, and the user may directly inject the additives
into the beverage ingredient pack 12.
[0065] In addition, the beverage maker does not include both of the
supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12, but the user may
directly inject the main ingredient and the additives
simultaneously or with a time difference into the fermentation tank
assembly 11.
[0066] When the beverage maker includes both of the supplier 3 and
the beverage ingredient pack 12, the beverage can be more
conveniently brewed. Hereinafter, the case where the beverage maker
includes both of the supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient pack 12
is described as an example. However, it will be apparent that the
present disclosure is not limited to the case where the beverage
maker includes both of the supplier 3 and the beverage ingredient
pack 12.
[0067] The ingredients injected into the beverage ingredient pack
12 may be fermented as time elapses. The beverage that has been
completely brewed in the beverage ingredient pack 12 may flow in
the main flow path 2 through the main flow path connecting part
115, and flow from the main flow path 2 to the beverage extractor 6
to be extracted from the beverage extractor 6.
[0068] The fermentation module 1 may further include a temperature
controller that changes a temperature of the fermentation tank
assembly 11. As the temperature controller heats or cools the
fermentation tank assembly 11, the temperature of the fermentation
tank assembly 11 can be controlled to an optimum temperature for
brewing the beverage.
[0069] The temperature controller may include a refrigeration cycle
apparatus 13 including a compressor 131, a condenser 132, an
expansion device 133, and an evaporator 134, and any one of the
condenser 132 and the evaporator 134 may be disposed at the
fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0070] When the condenser 132 is disposed in contact with the
fermentation tank 112, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may
control a temperature of the fermentation tank 112 by heating the
fermentation tank 112. In this case, the condenser 132 may be
disposed in contact with the outer surface of the fermentation tank
112. The condenser 132 may include a condensing tube wound around
the outer surface of the fermentation tank 112.
[0071] When the evaporator 134 is disposed in contact with the
fermentation tank 112, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may
control the temperature of the fermentation tank 112 by cooling the
fermentation tank 112. In this case, the evaporator 134 may be
disposed in contact with the outer surface of the fermentation tank
112. The evaporator 134 may include an evaporating tube wound
around the outer surface of the fermentation tank 112. The
evaporating tube may be accommodated between the fermentation tank
112 and a heat insulating wall 102 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and cool
the inside of a heat insulating space S2 heat-insulated by the heat
insulating wall 102.
[0072] The temperature controller may further include a heater 14
that heats the fermentation tank assembly 11. The heater 14 may be
disposed in contact with the outer surface of the fermentation tank
112, and be configured as a heater that generates heat when power
is applied thereto. The heater 14 may be configured as a line
heater, and be wound around the outer surface of the fermentation
tank 112.
[0073] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may be configured as a
heat pump. The refrigeration cycle apparatus 13 may include a flow
path switching valve. The flow path switching valve may be
configured as a four-way valve. The flow path switching valve may
be connected to each of an inlet flow path of the compressor 131
and an outlet flow path of the compressor 131. The flow path
switching valve may be connected to the condenser 132 through a
condenser connection flow path, and be connected to the evaporator
134 through an evaporator connection flow path.
[0074] When the fermentation tank 112 is cooled, the flow path
switching valve may guide a refrigerant compressed by the
compressor 131 to the condenser 132 and guide the refrigerant
discharged from the evaporator 134 to the compressor 131.
[0075] When the fermentation tank 112 is heated, the flow path
switching valve may guide the refrigerant compressed by the
compressor 131 to the evaporator 134 and guide the refrigerant
discharged from the condenser 132 to the compressor 131.
[0076] The beverage maker may include a beverage extraction
pressurizing device 15 that injects air between the beverage
ingredient pack 12 and the fermentation tank assembly 11. In a
state in which the beverage ingredient pack 12 is accommodated in
the fermentation tank assembly 11, the beverage extraction
pressurizing device 15 may inject air between the beverage
ingredient pack 12 and the fermentation tank assembly 11, and the
air injected into the fermentation tank assembly 11 may pressurize
the beverage ingredient pack 12. The beverage in the beverage
ingredient pack 12 may be pressurized by the air, and flow in the
main flow path 2 by passing through the main flow path connecting
part 115. The beverage flowing in the main flow path 2 from the
beverage ingredient pack 12 may be extracted to the outside through
the beverage extractor 6.
[0077] That is, in the beverage maker, if the beverage is
completely brewed, the beverage in the beverage ingredient pack 12
may be extracted through the beverage extractor 6 in a state in
which the beverage ingredient pack 12 is not taken out of the
fermentation tank assembly 11 but located in the fermentation tank
assembly 11.
[0078] The beverage extraction pressurizing device 15 may include
an air pump 152 that pumps air and an air supply flow path 154 that
connects the air pump 152 and the inside of the fermentation tank
assembly 11. The beverage extraction pressurizing device 15 may
further include an air control valve 156 installed in the air
supply flow path 154. The beverage extraction pressurizing device
15 may further include an air relief valve 158 provided to the air
supply flow path 154. The air relief valve 158 may be installed
posterior to the air control valve 156 in an air supply direction
in the air supply flow path 154.
[0079] The air control valve 156 may be opened only when the
beverage is extracted to allow air to be introduced into the
fermentation tank assembly 11, and maintain a closed state while
the beverage is not being extracted.
[0080] The beverage maker may further include a temperature sensor
16 that measures a temperature of the fermentation tank assembly
11. The temperature sensor 16 may be installed to measure a
temperature of the fermentation tank 112.
[0081] Hereinafter, the supplier 3 will be described as
follows.
[0082] The supplier 3 may be connected to a water supply heater 53
through the water supply flow path 4, and be connected to the
fermentation tank assembly 11 through the main flow path 2.
[0083] The supplier 3 may accommodate ingredients required to brew
the beverage therein, and be configured to allow water supplied
from the water supply module 5 to pass therethrough. For example,
in the case of beer, the ingredients accommodated in the supplier 3
may be yeast, hops, flavor additives, and the like.
[0084] The ingredients accommodated in the supplier 3 may be
directly accommodated in an ingredient accommodation part formed in
the supplier 3. At least one ingredient accommodation part may be
formed in the supplier 3. A plurality of ingredient accommodation
parts may be formed in the supplier 3. In this case, the plurality
of ingredient accommodation parts may be formed to be divided from
one another.
[0085] In some implementations, the ingredients accommodated in the
supplier 3 may be accommodated in a capsule, and at least one
capsule accommodation part in which the capsule is accommodated may
be formed in the supplier 3. When the ingredients are accommodated
in the capsule, the supplier 3 may be configured such that the
capsule is mountable and extractable. The supplier 3 may be
configured as a capsule kit assembly in which the capsule is
separably accommodated.
[0086] Each of the main flow path 2 and the water supply flow path
4 may be connected to the supplier 3. The water supplied through
the water supply flow path 4 may be mixed with the ingredients by
passing through the ingredient accommodation part or the capsule.
The ingredients accommodated in the ingredient accommodation part
or the capsule may flow in the main flow path 2 together with the
water.
[0087] A plurality of different kinds of additives may be separated
from one another to be accommodated in the supplier 3. The
plurality of additives accommodated in the supplier 3 may be yeast,
hops, and flavor additives, and be separated from one another to be
accommodated in the supplier 3.
[0088] When a plurality of ingredient accommodation parts are
formed in the supplier 3, each of the plurality of ingredient
accommodation parts may be connected to the water supply flow path
through a supplier entrance flow path, and be connected to the main
flow path 2 through a supplier exit flow path.
[0089] When a plurality of capsule accommodation parts are formed
in the supplier 3, each of the plurality of capsule accommodation
parts may be connected to the water supply flow path 4 through the
supplier entrance flow path, and be connected to the main flow path
2 through the supplier exit flow path.
[0090] The ingredient accommodation part of the supplier 3 and the
capsule accommodation part of the supplier 3 may be the
substantially same component. When the capsule is inserted into the
supplier 3 in a state in which the ingredients are accommodated in
the capsule, the component may be referred to as the capsule
accommodation part. When the ingredients are directly accommodated
in the supplier 3 in a state in which the ingredients are not
contained in the capsule, the component may be referred to as the
ingredient accommodation part. Since the ingredient accommodation
part and the capsule accommodation part may be the substantially
same component, it will be described below that, for convenience of
description, the capsule accommodation part is formed in the
supplier 3.
[0091] The capsule accommodation part in which a capsule containing
additives is attachably/detachably accommodated may be formed in
the supplier 3. The supplier 3 may be connected to the water supply
flow path 4 through the supplier entrance flow path, and be
connected to the main flow path 2 through the supplier exit flow
path.
[0092] An opening/closing valve that opens/closes the supplier
entrance flow path may be installed in the supplier entrance flow
path.
[0093] A check valve that blocks a fluid of the main flow path 2
from flowing backward to the capsule accommodation part may be
installed in the supplier exit flow path.
[0094] A plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33
may be formed in the supplier 3. The plurality of capsule
accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33 may be formed to be divided from
one another. The plurality of capsule accommodation parts 31, 32,
and 33 may be connected to supplier entrance flow paths and
supplier exit flow paths, respectively.
[0095] Hereinafter, a first additive, a second additive, and a
third additive may be accommodated in the supplier 3. The first
additive may be yeast, the second additive may be hop, and the
third additive may be a flavor additive.
[0096] The supplier 3 may include a first capsule accommodation
part 31 in which a first capsule C1 containing the first additive
is accommodated, a second capsule accommodation part 32 in which a
second capsule C2 containing the second additive is accommodated,
and a third capsule accommodation part 33 in which a third capsule
C3 containing the third additive is accommodated.
[0097] A first supplier entrance flow path 311 that guides water or
air to the first capsule accommodation part 31 may be connected to
the first capsule accommodation part 31, and a first supplier exit
flow path 312 through which water discharged from the first capsule
accommodation part 31, a mixture of the water and the first
additive, and air are guided may be connected to the first capsule
accommodation part 31. A first opening/closing valve 313 that
opens/closes the first supplier entrance flow path 311 may be
installed in the first supplier entrance flow path 311. A first
check valve 314 that blocks the fluid of the main flow path 2 from
flowing backward to the first capsule accommodation part 31 while
allowing a fluid of the first capsule accommodation part 31 to flow
in the main flow path 2 may be installed in the first supplier exit
flow path 312. Here, the fluid may include the water discharged
from the first capsule accommodation part 31, the mixture of the
water and the first additive, and the air.
[0098] A second supplier entrance flow path 321 that guides water
or air to the second capsule accommodation part 32 may be connected
to the second capsule accommodation part 32, and a second supplier
exit flow path 322 through which water discharged from the second
capsule accommodation part 32, a mixture of the water and the
second additive, and air are guided may be connected to the second
capsule accommodation part 32. A second opening/closing valve 323
that opens/closes the second supplier entrance flow path 321 may be
installed in the second supplier entrance flow path 321. A second
check valve 324 that blocks the fluid of the main flow path 2 from
flowing backward to the second capsule accommodation part 32 while
allowing a fluid of the second capsule accommodation part 32 to
flow in the main flow path 2 may be installed in the second
supplier exit flow path 322. Here, the fluid may include the water
discharged from the second capsule accommodation part 32, the
mixture of the water and the second additive, and the air.
[0099] A third supplier entrance flow path 331 that guides water or
air to the third capsule accommodation part 33 may be connected to
the third capsule accommodation part 33, and a third supplier exit
flow path 332 through which water discharged from the third capsule
accommodation part 33, a mixture of the water and the third
additive, and air are guided may be connected to the third capsule
accommodation part 33. A third opening/closing valve 323 that
opens/closes the third supplier entrance flow path 331 may be
installed in the third supplier entrance flow path 331. A third
check valve 334 that blocks the fluid of the main flow path 2 from
flowing backward to the third capsule accommodation part 33 while
allowing a fluid of the third capsule accommodation part 33 to flow
in the main flow path 2 may be installed in the third supplier exit
flow path 332. Here, the fluid may include the water discharged
from the third capsule accommodation part 33, the mixture of the
water and the third additive, and the air.
[0100] The beverage maker may include a bypass flow path 34 that
enables the water supplied from the water flow path 4 to be
supplied to the main flow path 2 by bypassing the capsule
accommodation parts 31, 32, and 33.
[0101] The bypass flow path 34 may be connected to the water supply
flow path 4 and the main flow path 2, and water or air of the water
flow path 4 may be guided to the bypass flow path 34 to flow in the
main flow path 2 by bypassing the capsule accommodation parts 31,
32, and 33.
[0102] The bypass flow path 34 may be connected in parallel to flow
paths of the first capsule accommodation part 31, the second
capsule accommodation part 32, and the third capsule accommodation
part 33.
[0103] A bypass valve 35 that opens/closes the bypass flow path 34
may be installed in the bypass flow path 34.
[0104] The beverage maker may include a main supply flow path that
guides the water, the ingredients of the beverage, or the air to
the fermentation tank assembly 11 therethrough.
[0105] When the beverage maker includes both of the supplier 3 and
the water supply module 5, the main supply flow path may include
all of the main flow path 2, the bypass flow path 34, and the water
supply flow path 4. In this case, the main supply flow path may
supply all of the water, the air, and the ingredients of the
beverage to the fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0106] The beverage maker includes the supplier 3, but may not
include the water supply module 5. In this case, the main supply
flow path may include all of the main flow path 2, the bypass flow
path 34, and the water supply flow path 4. The water supply flow
path 4 may be directly connected to a water faucet or include a
water supply tube that is connected to the water faucet through a
separate connection hose to be supplied with external water. The
water supply tube may be supplied with external water to supply the
external water to the bypass flow path 34 or the supplier 3. That
is, the main supply flow path may supply all of the water, the air,
and the ingredients of the beverage to the fermentation tank
assembly 11 therethrough.
[0107] The beverage maker includes the water supply module 5, but
may not include the supplier 3. In this case, the main supply flow
path may include the main flow path 2, and the main flow path 2 may
be directly connected to the water supply module 5. In addition, an
air injection flow path 81 of an air injector 8 may be connected to
the main flow path 2.
[0108] When the beverage maker includes the water supply module 5
but does not include the supplier 3, the main supply flow path does
not require a separate water supply flow path 4 or bypass flow path
34 that connects the water supply module 5 and the supplier 3, and
the main flow path 2 may be directly supplied from the water supply
module 5. In addition, the air injection flow path 81 of the air
injector 8 may be connected to a portion located between the water
supply module 5 and a main valve 9 in the main flow path 2.
[0109] When the beverage maker includes the water supply module 5
but does not include the supplier 3, water of the water supply
module 5 may be supplied to the fermentation tank assembly 11
through the main flow path 2, and air of the air injector 8 may be
supplied to the fermentation tank assembly 11 through the main flow
path 2. That is, the main flow path may supply water and air to the
fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0110] The beverage maker may not include both of the supplier 3
and the water supply module 5. In this case, the main supply flow
path may include the main flow path 2, and the main flow path 2 may
be directly connected to a water faucet or include a water supply
tube that is connected to the water faucet through a separate
connection hose to be supplied with external water. The water
supply tube may be supplied with external water to supply the
external water to the fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0111] When the beverage maker does not include both of the
supplier 3 and the water supply module 5, the main supply flow path
does not require a separate water supply flow path 4 or bypass flow
path 34 that connects the water supply module 5 and the supplier 3,
and the main flow path 2 may be directly supplied from the water
supply module 5. In this case, the air injection flow path 81 of
the air injector 8 may be connected to the main flow path 2, and be
connected prior to the main valve 9 in the main flow path 2. That
is, the main supply flow path may supply water and air to the
fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0112] Hereinafter, the case where the beverage maker includes all
of the main flow path 2, the water supply flow path 4, and the
bypass flow path 34 will be described as an example.
[0113] The main flow path 2 may be connected to the first supplier
exit flow path 312, the second supplier exit flow path 322, the
third supplier exit flow path 332, and the bypass flow path 34. The
main flow path 2 may include a common tube connected to the
fermentation tank assembly 11 and a combination tube connected to
the first supplier exit flow path 312, the second supplier exit
flow path 322, the third supplier exit flow path 332, the bypass
flow path 34 and the common tube.
[0114] The main flow path 2 may be connected to the fermentation
tank assembly 11, and be connected to the fermentation tank cover
114 in the fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0115] The water supply flow path 4 may be connected to the first
supplier entrance flow path 311, the second supplier entrance flow
path 321, the third supplier entrance flow path 331, and the bypass
flow path 34.
[0116] The water supply flow path 4 may include a common tube
connected to the water supply module 5, and a plurality of branch
tubes branching off from the common tube, the plurality of branch
tubes being connected to the first supplier entrance flow path 311,
the second supplier entrance flow path 321, the third supplier
entrance flow path 331, and the bypass flow path 34.
[0117] The water supply module 5 may include a water tank 51
containing water, a water supply pump 52 that pumps the water of
the water tank 51, and the water supply heater 53 that heats the
water pumped by the water supply pump 52.
[0118] A water tank outlet flow path 54 may be connected to the
water tank 51, and the water supply pump 52 may be connected to the
water tank outlet flow path 54.
[0119] A water supply pump outlet flow path 55 may be connected to
the water supply pump 52, and the water supply heater 53 may be
connected to the water supply pump outlet flow path 55.
[0120] A flow meter 56 that measures a flow rate of the water
supply pump outlet flow path 55 may be installed in the water
supply pump outlet flow path 55.
[0121] The water supply heater 53 may be a mold heater, and include
a heater case through which the water pumped by the water supply
pump 52 passes, and a heater installed in the heater case to heat
water introduced into the heater case. A thermistor 57 that
measures a temperature of the water supply heater 53 may be
installed in the water supply heater 53. In addition, a thermal
fuse 58 that cuts off current applied to the water supply heater 53
as a circuit is interrupted when the temperature of the water
supply heater 53 is high.
[0122] When the water supply pump 52 is driven, water of the water
tank 51 may be guided to the water supply heater 53 through the
water tank outlet flow path 54, the water supply pump 52, and the
water supply pump outlet flow path 55. The water guided to the
water heater 53 may be heated by the water supply heater 53 and
then guided to the water supply flow path 4.
[0123] The beverage extractor 6 may be connected to the main flow
path 2. The beverage extractor 6 may include a beverage extraction
flow path 61 connected to the main flow path 2, the beverage
extraction flow path 61 allowing the beverage of the main flow path
2 to be guided therethrough. The beverage extractor 6 may further
include a beverage extraction valve 62 connected to the beverage
extraction flow path 61.
[0124] An anti-foaming path 63 may be provided in the beverage
extraction flow path 61, and foam of the beverage flowing from the
main flow path 2 to the beverage extraction flow path 61 may be
minimized by passing through the anti-foaming path 63. A mesh,
etc., through which foam is filtered, may be provided in the
anti-foaming path 63.
[0125] The beverage extraction valve 62 may include a lever
manipulated by the user and a tap valve having a micro switch that
detects a manipulation of the user.
[0126] In some implementations, the beverage maker may further
include a gas discharger that discharges gas in the fermentation
module 1 to the outside.
[0127] The gas discharger 7 may include a gas extraction flow path
71 connected to the fermentation module 1 and a pressure sensor 72
installed in the gas extraction flow path 71. The gas discharger 7
may further include a gas extraction valve 73 that opens/closes the
gas extraction flow path 71. The gas discharger 7 may further
include an air filter 74 through which gas passing through the gas
extraction valve 73 passes.
[0128] The gas extraction flow path 71 may be connected to the
fermentation tank assembly 11, particularly, the fermentation tank
cover 114.
[0129] The gas extraction valve 73 may be turned on when air is
injected into the beverage ingredient pack 12, to be opened. The
beverage maker may allow malt and water to be uniformly mixed
together by injecting air into the beverage ingredient pack 12. As
such, in the case of beer making, bubbles generated from the liquid
malt may be discharged to the outside at an upper portion of the
beer brewing pack 12 through the gas extraction flow path 71 and
the gas extraction valve 73.
[0130] The gas extraction valve 73 may be opened to detect a
fermentation degree during a fermentation process. The gas in the
beverage brewing pack 12 may flow in the pressure sensor 72. The
pressure sensor 72 may sense a pressure of the gas discharged from
the beverage brewing pack 12.
[0131] The pressure sensor 72, the gas extraction valve 73, and the
air filter 74 may be sequentially disposed in a gas discharge
direction in the gas extraction flow path 71.
[0132] The gas discharger 7 may further include a gas discharge
relief valve 75 provided in the gas extraction flow path 71. The
gas discharge relief valve 75 may be installed prior to the
pressure sensor 72 in the gas discharge direction.
[0133] The beverage maker may further include the air injector 8
connected to at least one of the main flow path 2 and the water
supply flow path 4 to inject air.
[0134] When the air injector 8 is connected to the water supply
flow path 4, air may be injected into the supplier 3 through the
water supply flow path 4. The air injected into the water supply
flow path 4 may sequentially pass through the supplier 3 and the
main flow path 2 and then be injected into the beverage brewing
pack 12. When the air injector 8 is connected to the water supply
flow path 4, air may be injected into the beverage brewing pack 12
through the water supply flow path 4, the bypass flow path 34, and
the main flow path 2. The air injector 8 may supply the air to the
ingredients in the beverage brewing pack 12.
[0135] When the air injector 8 is connected to the water supply
flow path 4, air may be injected into the capsule accommodation
parts 31, 32, and 33 through the water supply flow path 4,
remaining water or sludge in the capsules C1, C2, and C3 and the
capsule accommodation parts 31, 32, and 32 may flow in the main
flow path 2, and the capsules C1, C2, and C3 and the capsule
accommodation parts 31, 32, and 32 may be cleanly maintained.
[0136] The air injector 8 may include the air injection flow path
81 connected to the water supply flow path 4 and an air injection
pump 82 that pumps air to the air injection flow path 81.
[0137] The air injector 8 may further include a check valve 83 that
blocks the water of the water supply flow path 4 from being
introduced into the air injection pump 82 through the air injection
flow path 81. The check valve 83 may be installed posterior to the
air injection pump 82 in an air injection direction.
[0138] The air injector 8 may further include an air filter 84
connected to the air injection flow path 81, the air filter 84
being installed prior to the air injection pump 82 in the air
injection direction.
[0139] When the air injection pump 82 is driven, dust, etc. in air
may be filtered by the air filter 84, and the air passing through
the air filter 84 may be flowed by the air injection pump 82 to
flow in the water supply flow path 4.
[0140] The beverage maker may further include the main valve 9 that
opens/closes the main flow path 2.
[0141] The main valve 9 may be installed, in the main flow path 2,
between a connection part 91 of the main flow path 2 and the
beverage extraction flow path 61 and a connection part 92 of the
main flow path 2 and the fermentation tank assembly 11.
[0142] The main valve 9 may be opened when hot water is injected
into the beverage ingredient pack 12, to open the main flow path 2.
The main valve 9 may be closed while the fermentation tank assembly
11 is cooled, to close the main flow path 2. The main valve 9 may
be opened when air is injected into the beverage ingredient pack
12, to open the main flow path 2. The main valve 9 may be opened
when an additive is supplied to the inside of the beverage
ingredient pack 12, to open the main flow path 2. The main valve 9
may be closed while ingredients are being fermented, to close the
inside of the beverage ingredient pack 12. The main valve 9 may be
closed when the beverage is ripened and kept, to close the inside
of the beverage ingredient pack 12. The main valve 9 may be opened
when the beverage is extracted from the beverage extractor 6, to
open the main flow path 2.
[0143] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the beverage maker according
to some implementations. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating
an inside of the beverage maker according to some implementations.
FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating an inside of the beverage maker
according to some implementations.
[0144] The beverage maker may further include a base 100. The base
100 may form a bottom appearance of the beverage maker, and support
the fermentation tank assembly 11, the compressor 131, the water
supply heater 53, the water supply pump 52, the water tank 51, and
the like, which are located at the top side thereof.
[0145] The beverage maker may further include a beverage container
101 configured to receive and keep beverage dropping from the
beverage extraction valve 62. The beverage container 101 may be
integrally formed with the base 100 or be coupled to the base
100.
[0146] The beverage container 101 may include a container body 101A
having a space in which the beverage dropping from the beverage
extraction valve 62 is accommodated. The beverage container 101 may
include a container top plate 101B disposed at the top surface of
the container body 101A to cover the space in the container body
101A.
[0147] The container body 101A may be formed to protrude forward at
a front portion of the base 100. The top surface of the container
body 101A may be opened.
[0148] Holes 101C through which the beverage drops into the
container body 101A may be formed in the container top plate
101B.
[0149] Beverage dropping around a beverage container in the
beverage dropping from the beverage extraction valve 62 may drop to
the container top plate 101B, and be temporarily kept inside the
beverage container 101 through the holes 101C of the container top
plate 101B. Thus, surroundings of the beverage maker can be cleanly
maintained.
[0150] The fermentation tank 112, as shown in FIG. 4, may include a
lower fermentation tank 112A of which top surface is opened, the
lower fermentation tank 112A having a space formed therein, and an
upper fermentation tank 112B disposed at the top of the lower
fermentation tank 112A, the upper fermentation tank 112B having the
opening 111 formed in the top surface thereof.
[0151] A seat part 116 on which the beverage ingredient pack 12 is
mounted may be provided in the fermentation tank 112. The seat part
116 may be provided to protrude from the opening 111, and a
circumferential part of the beverage ingredient pack 12 may be
mounted on the seat part 116.
[0152] The beverage maker may include the heat insulating wall 102
surrounding both of the fermentation tank 112 and the evaporator
134.
[0153] The heat insulating wall 102 may be formed of polystyrene
foam or the like, which has high heat insulation performance and
can absorb vibration.
[0154] A heat insulating wall opening 103 may be formed at an upper
portion of the heat insulating wall 102, and the heat insulating
space S2 may be formed inside the heat insulating wall 102.
[0155] The heat insulating wall 102 may be configured as an
assembly of a plurality of members. The heat insulating wall 102
may include a lower heat insulating wall 102A of which top surface
is opened, the lower heat insulating wall 102A having a space
formed therein, and an upper heat insulating wall 102B disposed at
the top of the lower heat insulating wall 102A, the upper heat
insulating wall 102B having the heat insulating wall opening 103
formed in the top surface thereof.
[0156] The heat insulating wall 102 having the lower heat
insulating wall 102A and the upper heat insulating wall 102B may
surround the circumferential and bottom surfaces of the
fermentation tank 112.
[0157] The heat insulating wall opening 103 of the heat insulating
wall 102 may surround an upper portion of the fermentation tank
112. The heat insulating wall opening 103 of the heat insulating
wall 102 may surround the outer surface of a portion at which the
heat insulating wall opening 103 is formed in the fermentation tank
112.
[0158] An inner surface 102C of the heat insulating wall 102 may
have a larger diameter than an outer surface 112C of the
fermentation tank 112, and a gap may be formed between the inner
surface 102C of the heat insulating wall 102 and the outer surface
112C of the fermentation tank 112. Air may be filled in the gap,
and the air between the inner surface 102C of the heat insulating
wall 102 and the outer surface 112C of the fermentation tank 112
may heat-insulate the fermentation tank 112. The gap between the
inner surface 102C of the heat insulating wall 102 and the outer
surface 112C of the fermentation tank 112 may be a space in which
the evaporator 134 is accommodated, and simultaneously be a space
that can minimize a change in temperature of the fermentation tank
112.
[0159] The fermentation tank 112 may be mounted on a top surface
102E of a bottom plate part 102D of the heat insulating wall 102,
and be supported by the top surface 102E of the bottom plate part
102D of the heat insulating wall 102.
[0160] A bottom surface 102F of the bottom plate part 102D of the
heat insulating wall 102 may be placed on a heat insulating wall
supporter 100A formed on the top surface of the base 100.
[0161] An air supply flow path through-hole 102G through which the
air supply flow path 154 passes may be formed in the bottom plate
part 102D of the heat insulating wall 102. The air supply flow path
through-hole 102G may form at least part of a channel that is
communicative with a space that is formed in the interior of the
container body between a wall of the container body and the
beverage ingredient pack 12 mounted inside the container body. Air
that is supplied through this channel may exert pressure on the
flexible beverage ingredient pack 12, causing the manufactured
beverage to be extracted. At least a portion of the air supply flow
path 154 may be formed through the heat insulating wall 102, and be
connected to the fermentation tank 112.
[0162] In some implementations, the evaporator 134 may be an
evaporating tube wound around the outer surface of the fermentation
tank 112 to be located in the gap. The evaporator 134 may be in
contact with each of the outer surface 112C of the fermentation
tank 112 and the inner surface 102C of the heat insulating wall
102. The evaporator 134 may be supported by the heat insulating
wall 102.
[0163] The evaporator 134 may include an extending tube extending
to the outside of the heat insulating wall 102 by passing through
an evaporating tube through-hole formed in the heat insulating wall
102.
[0164] The beverage maker may include a heat insulating wall cover
104 and 105 surrounding the circumferential and top surfaces of the
heat insulating wall 102.
[0165] The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may be configured
as one cover, and be configured as an assembly of a plurality of
covers.
[0166] The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may include a
lower heat insulating wall cover 104 of which bottom surface is
opened, the lower heat insulating wall cover 104 surrounding the
outer circumferential surface of the heat insulating wall 102, and
an upper heat insulating wall cover 105 disposed at the top of the
lower heat insulating wall cover 104, the upper heat insulating
wall cover 105 covering the top surface of the heat insulating wall
102.
[0167] A lower portion of the lower heat insulating wall cover 104
may be placed on the base 100.
[0168] A lower portion of the upper heat insulating wall cover 105
may be placed on the top end of the lower heat insulating wall
cover 104.
[0169] The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may protect the
heat insulating wall 102, and form a portion of the appearance of
the beverage maker.
[0170] The heat insulating wall cover 104 and 105 may surround the
entire circumferential surface of the heat insulating wall 102, and
surround only a portion of the circumferential surface of the heat
insulating wall 102.
[0171] A side opening may be formed in a surface of the heat
insulating wall cover 104 and 105, which faces the water tank 51.
The extending tube of the evaporator 134 may be disposed to pass
through the side opening. The extending tube of the evaporator 134
may extend to an accommodation space S5 shown in FIG. 4, which will
be described later, by passing through the side opening of the heat
insulating wall cover 104 and 105.
[0172] In some implementations, the water tank 51 may be spaced
apart from the base 100 at the top side of the base 100. The water
tank 51 may be spaced apart from the base 100 in the vertical
direction. A space S3 in which at least one of the compressor 131,
the water supply heater 53, and the water supply pump 52 is to be
accommodated may be formed between the water tank 51 and the base
100. In addition, the water tank 51 may be spaced apart from the
heat insulating wall 102 in the horizontal direction.
[0173] The beverage maker may include a water tank supporter 106
supporting the water tank 51 to be spaced apart from the base 100.
The water tank supporter 106 may be disposed at the base 100, and
support the water tank 51 to be spaced apart from the base 100 at
the top side of the base 100. The bottom end of water tank
supporter 106 may be placed on the base 100, and the water tank 51
may be placed at an upper portion of the water tank supporter
106.
[0174] The water tank supporter 106 may be configured such that a
plurality of supporter members are coupled in a hollow cylindrical
shape. A side opening may be formed in a surface of the water tank
supporter 106, which faces the heat insulating wall 102.
[0175] The water tank 51 may include an outer water tank 58, and an
inner water tank 59 accommodated in the outer water tank 58, the
inner water tank 59 in which a space S4 having water accommodated
therein is formed.
[0176] The outer water tank 58 may be placed at an upper portion of
the water tank supporter 106, and the bottom surface of the outer
water tank 58 may be spaced apart from the top surface of the base
100. The space S3 in which at least one of the compressor 131, the
water supply heater 53, and the water supply pump 52 is to be
accommodated may be formed between the outer water tank 58 and the
base 100.
[0177] The outer water tank 58 may have a vessel shape of which top
surface is opened, and protect the inner water tank 59 by
surrounding the outer circumferential and bottom surfaces of the
inner water tank 59 located therein.
[0178] The inner water tank 59 may be inserted into the outer water
tank 58, and be supported by the outer water tank 58.
[0179] The beverage maker may further include a water tank
protector 107 disposed at the top side of the outer water tank 58
to surround an upper outer circumferential surface of the inner
water tank 59. The water tank protector 107 may be disposed to
surround the entire or a portion of the upper outer circumferential
surface of the inner water tank 59. The water tank protector 107
may be configured such that a plurality of protector members are
coupled in a ring shape.
[0180] The beverage maker may further include a water tank lid 108
coupled to the water tank 51 or the water tank protector 107 to
cover the top surface of the water tank 51. One side of the water
tank lid 108 may be rotatably connected to the water tank 51 or the
water tank protector 107. The water tank lid 108 may be separably
mounted on the top surface of the water tank 51 or the water tank
protector 107.
[0181] In some implementations, at least one of the compressor 131,
the water supply heater 53, and the water supply pump 52 may be
disposed between the base 100 and the water tank 51.
[0182] The condenser 132 may be disposed to face at least one of
the space between the heat insulating wall 102 and the water tank
51, and the heat insulating wall 102.
[0183] The supplier 3 may be disposed between the fermentation tank
cover 114 and the water tank 51. In this case, the beverage maker
may be compactly manufactured as compared with when the supplier 3
is located at a position except the space between the fermentation
tank cover 114 and the water tank 51, and the supplier 3 may be
protected by the fermentation tank cover 114 and the water tank
51.
[0184] As shown in FIG. 4, one side of the supplier 3 may be
mounted on the outer water tank 58, and the other side of the
supplier 3 may be mounted on the heat insulating wall cover 104 and
105. The supplier 3 may be vertically spaced apart from the base
100 at the top side of the base 100.
[0185] The supplier 3 may include a capsule accommodation body 36
having the capsule accommodation part in which the capsules C1, C2,
and C3 shown in FIG. 1 are attachably/detachably accommodated, and
a lid module 37 covering the capsule accommodation part.
[0186] One side plate facing the water tank 51 among left and right
side plates of the capsule accommodation body 36 may be mounted on
a mounting part formed in the outer water tank 58 to be supported
by the outer water tank 58.
[0187] The other side plate facing the fermentation tank cover 114
among the left and right side plates of the capsule accommodation
body 36 may be mounted on the heat insulating wall cover 104 and
105, and be supported by the heat insulating wall cover 104 and
105.
[0188] The lid module 37 may include a lid 38 covering the capsule
accommodation body 36. The lid 38 may be slidingly disposed at the
capsule accommodation body 36 or be rotatably connected to the
capsule accommodation body 36. The lid 38 may be hinge-connected to
the capsule accommodation body 36.
[0189] The supplier 3 may be installed to be located at an
approximately central upper portion of the beverage maker, and the
user may easily mount or separate the capsules C1, C2, and C3 by
upwardly rotating the lid module 37 of the supplier 3.
[0190] The accommodation space S5 in which a plurality of parts are
to be accommodated may be formed in the beverage maker. Here, the
accommodation space S5 may be a space that becomes a space between
the heat insulating wall 102 and the water tank 51 in the
left-right direction and becomes a space between the supplier 3 and
the base 100 in the top-bottom direction.
[0191] In the beverage maker, a plurality of parts are preferably
accommodated in the accommodation space S5. In this case, the
beverage maker may become compact. The plurality of parts
accommodated in the accommodation space S5 may be protected by
being surrounded by the heat insulating wall 102, the water tank
51, the base 100, the supplier 3, the condenser 132, and a center
cover 66 which will be described later.
[0192] The opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 installed in
the supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331 shown in FIG. 1
to open/close the supplier entrance flow paths 311, 321, and 331,
as shown in FIG. 4, may be located under the capsule accommodation
body 36.
[0193] The opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may be
installed in a bracket 64 (see FIG. 3) disposed at the base
100.
[0194] The bracket 64 may be disposed to be located at a side of
the heat insulating wall 102, and the opening/closing valves 313,
323, and 333 may be installed to be located between the heat
insulating wall 102 and the water tank 51 by the bracket 64. The
opening/closing valves 313, 323, and 333 may be located between the
heat insulating wall 102 and the water tank 51 in the left-right
direction, and be located between the base 100 and the supplier 3
in the top-bottom direction.
[0195] The beverage maker may further include the center cover 66
covering the front of the opening/closing valves 313, 323, and
333.
[0196] The center cover 66, as shown in FIG. 2, may be disposed to
cover between the heat insulating wall cover 104 and the water tank
supporter 106 in the left-right direction and cover between the
supplier 3 and the base 100 in the top-bottom direction. The rear
surface of the center cover 66 may face the condenser 132 in the
front-rear direction, and protect a plurality of parts.
[0197] In addition, a front portion of the supplier 3 may be placed
on the top end of the center cover 66, and the supplier 3 may be
supported by the center cover 66.
[0198] In some implementations, the beverage extraction valve may
be mounted to the center cover 66. The beverage extraction valve 62
may be mounted to protrude forward from the center cover 66. The
beverage extraction valve 62 may be mounted to the center cover 66
to be located at the top side of the beverage container 101.
[0199] The beverage maker may include a controller 109 that
controls the beverage maker.
[0200] The controller 109 may include a main PCB 109C.
[0201] The controller 109 may include a wireless communication
element that performs wireless communication with a wireless
communication device such as a remote controller or a portable
terminal. The wireless communication element, such as a Wi-Fi
module or a Bluetooth module, is not limited to its kind as long as
it can perform wireless communication with a remote controller or a
wireless communication device. The wireless communication element
may be mounted on the main PCB 109C or a display PCB which will be
described later.
[0202] The controller 109 may include an input unit that receives a
command related to the manufacturing of the beverage maker. The
input unit may be any suitable mechanical and/or electronic input
unit. For example, the input unit may include a rotary knob 109A
and a rotary switch 109B switched by the rotary knob 109A. A knob
hole 106A through which the rotary knob 109A rotatably passes may
be formed at one side of the water tank supporter 106. The rotary
knob 109A may be disposed such that at least one portion of the
rotary knob 109A is exposed to the outside. The rotary switch 109B
may be mounted on the main PCB 109C. As another example, the input
unit may include a touch screen that receives a command of the user
in a touch-based manner. The touch screen may be provided in a
display 109D which will be described later. The user may input a
command through the remote controller or the wireless communication
device, and the controller 109 may receive the command of the user
through the wireless communication element.
[0203] The controller 109 may include the display 109D that
displays various information of the beverage maker. The display
109D may include a display element such as LCD, LED, or OLED. The
display 109D may include the display PCB on which the display
element is mounted. The display PCB may be mounted on the main PCB
109C or be connected to the main PCB 109C through a separate
connector.
[0204] The display 109D may display information that has been input
through the input unit.
[0205] The display 109D may display information of the beverage
brewing pack 12 and information on a fermentation time of beverage
ingredients, a beverage completion time, or the like. The
fermentation time of the beverage ingredients or the beverage
completion time may be changed depending on kinds of the beverage
ingredients contained in the beverage brewing pack 12. If beverage
brewing pack 12 approaches the fermentation tank assembly 11, the
controller 109 may acquire information from the beverage brewing
pack 12 through a communication module such as NFC.
[0206] In some implementations, a compact chip in which various
information related to the beverage ingredients may be attached in
the shape of a sticker, etc. to the beverage brewing pack 12, and
the chip and an NFC tag that transmits/receives data may be
installed in the beverage maker. In such implementations, the NFC
tag may be mounted on the fermentation tank assembly 11, the main
PCB 109C, or the display PCB. When the NFC tag is mounted on the
fermentation tank assembly 11, the NFC tag may be mounted on the
opening 111 of the fermentation tank 112 or the fermentation tank
cover 114. The NFC tag may be connected to the controller 109
through a data line.
[0207] If the beverage brewing pack 12 is accommodated in the
fermentation tank assembly 11, the controller 109 may acquire
information of the beverage brewing pack 12 from a chip provided in
the beverage brewing pack 12.
[0208] In some implementations, when the NFC tag is installed on
the display PCB, the NFC tag may be installed at a front portion of
the beverage maker. If the beverage brewing pack 12 comes close to
the front portion of the beverage maker by the user, the controller
109 may acquire information related to beverage-making ingredients
from the beverage brewing pack 12.
[0209] The controller 109 may transmit the information acquired
from the NFC tag to the display 109D or the wireless communication
device, and the display 109D or the wireless communication device
may display kinds of beverage ingredients, a total fermentation
time, a beverage completion time, or the like.
[0210] In some implementations, the controller 109 may acquire
information related to beverage-making ingredients from the
wireless communication device through the wireless communication
element. The wireless communication device may receive the
information related to the beverage-making ingredients from the
user, or acquire the information related to the beverage-making
ingredients from the beverage brewing pack 12 using an NFC
communication module. The wireless communication device may
transmit the acquired information to the beverage-making
apparatus.
[0211] The display 109D may display various information related to
brewing of beverage while the beverage is being brewed. The
controller 109 may be connected to the temperature sensor 16. The
controller 109 may transmit information on a temperature sensed by
the temperature sensor 16 to the display 109D or the wireless
communication device, and the display 109D or the communication
device may display the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor
16 through a numerical value, a graph, or the like.
[0212] The display 109D may display a completion degree of the
beverage, an amount of carbonic acid contained in the beverage, or
the like through a numerical value, a graph, or the like while the
beverage is being brewed.
[0213] The display 109D may differently display a completion degree
of the beverage in primary fermentation and a completion degree of
the beverage in secondary fermentation. The amount of carbonic acid
in the beverage of the beverage brewing pack 12 may be gradually
increased as time elapses. The controller 109 may detect a pressure
in the beverage brewing pack 12 through the pressure sensor 72, and
detect a temperature of the fermentation tank assembly 11 through
the temperature sensor 16. The controller 109 may calculate an
amount of carbonic acid using the detected pressure and temperature
according to a preset equation or table. The controller 109 may
transmit information on the calculated amount of carbonic acid to
the display 109D or the wireless communication device, and at least
one of the display 109D and the wireless communication device may
display the calculated amount of carbonic acid.
[0214] The display 109D may display a remaining amount of the
beverage after the beverage is completely brewed.
[0215] If the secondary fermentation which will be described later
is ended, the controller 109 may determine that the beverage has
been completely brewed.
[0216] The controller 109 may add up at least one of a time
required to turn on the micro switch, a time required to drive the
air pump 152, and a time required to turn on the main valve 9 after
the beverage is completely brewed. The controller 109 may calculate
an extraction amount of the beverage according to the added-up
time, and calculate a remaining amount of the beverage from the
calculated extraction amount. The controller 109 may transmit
information on the remaining amount of the beverage to the display
109D or the wireless communication device, and at least one of the
display 109D and the wireless communication device may display the
remaining amount of the beverage.
[0217] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system
including a beverage-making apparatus and a mobile terminal
connected to the beverage-making apparatus according to an
implementation.
[0218] Referring to FIG. 5, the system may include a
beverage-making apparatus 1000 and a mobile terminal 2000 connected
to the beverage-making apparatus 1000. The beverage-making
apparatus 1000 shown in FIG. 5 may correspond, for example, to the
beverage-making apparatus described in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0219] The beverage-making apparatus 1000 and the mobile terminal
2000 may be connected through wireless communications, for example
through a wireless communication protocol. The wireless
communication protocol may be, for example, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
ZigBee, or any other suitable wireless communication protocol. As
other examples, the mobile terminal 2000 may communicate with the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 using short-range wireless
communication signals, or may indirectly communicate via an
intermediate device, such as a relay or a router.
[0220] The beverage-making apparatus 1000 may transmit various
information related to the beverage-making apparatus 1000 to the
mobile terminal 2000. The various information may include, for
example, information related to an on/off state of the
beverage-making apparatus 1000, information related to a type of
the beverage-making apparatus 1000, information related to beverage
ingredients acquired from the beverage brewing pack 12 and/or
supplier 3 of apparatus 1000, beverage brewing information based on
beverage ingredients of the apparatus 1000, and/or beverage
maintenance or storage information related to the apparatus
1000.
[0221] The mobile terminal 2000 may store one or more programs,
such as applications, that when executed by one or more processors,
perform operations of providing brewing information regarding the
beverage-making apparatus 1000. For example, if the stored
application is executed, the mobile terminal 2000 may display
information received from the beverage-making apparatus 1000, such
as information regarding ingredients or recipes for making a
beverage using apparatus 1000, or remotely control an operation of
the beverage-making apparatus 1000 based on the displayed
information.
[0222] The mobile terminal 2000 may include, for example, a
cellular phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a terminal for
digital broadcast, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable
multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system, a tablet PC, an
ultrabook, a wearable device (e.g., a smartwatch, a smart glass, or
a head mounted display (HMD)), and the like. An example of a
configuration of the mobile terminal 2000 will be described with
reference to FIG. 6.
[0223] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a
mobile terminal according to an implementation.
[0224] In this example, the mobile terminal 2000 is shown having
components such as a wireless communication unit 2010, an input
unit 2020, a sensing unit 2040, an output unit 2050, an interface
unit 2060, a memory 2070, a controller 2080, and a power supply
unit 2090. However, not all implementations of the present
disclosure necessarily implement all of the illustrated components
in FIG. 6, and greater or fewer components may alternatively be
implemented.
[0225] Referring to FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 2000 is shown
having wireless communication unit 2010. The wireless communication
unit 2010 includes one or more components which enable wireless
communication between the mobile terminal 2000 and other devices,
such as the beverage-making apparatus 1000 or other devices on a
wireless communication system or network with which the mobile
terminal 2000 is communicative.
[0226] In this example, the wireless communication unit 2010
includes one or more modules which enable communications, e.g.,
wireless communications between the mobile terminal 2000 and a
wireless communication system, communications between the mobile
terminal 2000 and another device or mobile terminal, and/or
communications between the mobile terminal 2000 and an external
server. Further, the wireless communication unit 2010 includes one
or more modules which connect the mobile terminal 2000 to other
devices. To facilitate such communications, in the example of FIG.
6, the wireless communication unit 2010 includes one or more of a
broadcast receiving module 2011, a mobile communication module
2012, a wireless Internet module 2013, a short-range communication
module 2014, and a location information module 2015.
[0227] The mobile terminal 2000 in FIG. 6 also implements an input
unit 2020, which includes a camera 2021 for obtaining images or
video, a microphone 2022, which is one type of audio input device
for inputting an audio signal, and a user input unit 2023 (for
example, a touch key, a push key, a mechanical key, a soft key, and
the like) for allowing a user to input information. Data (for
example, audio, video, image, and the like) is obtained by the
input unit 2020 and may be analyzed and processed by controller
2080 according to device parameters, user commands, and
combinations thereof.
[0228] The mobile terminal 2000 also includes a sensing unit 2040
that is implemented with one or more sensors configured to sense
internal information of the mobile terminal 2000, the surrounding
environment of the mobile terminal 2000, user information, and the
like. For example, in FIG. 6, the sensing unit 2040 is shown having
a proximity sensor 2041 and an illumination sensor 2042.
[0229] In some implementations, the sensing unit 2040 may
alternatively or additionally include other types of sensors or
devices, such as a touch sensor, an acceleration sensor, a magnetic
sensor, a G-sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a motion sensor, an RGB
sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a finger scan sensor, a ultrasonic
sensor, an optical sensor (for example, camera 2021), a microphone
2022, a battery gauge, an environment sensor (for example, a
barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a radiation detection
sensor, a thermal sensor, and a gas sensor, among others), a
chemical sensor (for example, an electronic nose, a health care
sensor, a biometric sensor, and the like), to name a few. The
mobile terminal 2000 may be configured to utilize information
obtained from sensing unit 2040, and in particular, information
obtained from one or more sensors of the sensing unit 2040, and
combinations thereof.
[0230] The mobile terminal 2000 also includes an output unit 2050
configured to output various types of information, such as audio,
video, tactile output, and the like. In the example of FIG. 6, the
output unit 2050 is shown having a display unit 2051, an audio
output module 2052, a haptic module 2053, and an optical output
module 2054.
[0231] The display unit 2051 may have an inter-layered structure or
an integrated structure with a touch sensor in order to facilitate
a touch screen. The touch screen may provide an output interface
between the mobile terminal 2000 and a user, as well as providing a
function as the user input unit 2023 which provides an input
interface between the mobile terminal 2000 and the user.
[0232] The mobile terminal 2000 of FIG. 6 also implements an
interface unit 2060, which serves as an interface with various
types of external devices that can be coupled to the mobile
terminal 2000. The interface unit 2060, for example, may include
any of wired or wireless ports, external power supply ports, wired
or wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for connecting a
device having an identification module, audio input/output (I/O)
ports, video I/O ports, earphone ports, and the like. In some
cases, the mobile terminal 2000 may perform assorted control
functions associated with a connected external device, in response
to the external device being connected to the interface unit
2060.
[0233] The mobile terminal 2000 also implements a memory 2070 that
stores data to support various functions or features of the mobile
terminal 2000. For instance, the memory 2070 may be configured to
store application programs executed in the mobile terminal 2000,
data or instructions for operations of the mobile terminal 2000,
and the like. Some of these application programs may be downloaded
from an external server via wireless communication. Other
application programs may be installed within the mobile terminal
2000 at time of manufacturing or shipping, which is typically the
case for basic functions of the mobile terminal 2000 (for example,
receiving a call, placing a call, receiving a message, sending a
message, and the like). It is common for application programs to be
stored in the memory 2070, installed in the mobile terminal 2000,
and executed by the controller 2080 to perform an operation (or
function) for the mobile terminal 2000. Although the memory 2070 is
shown in FIG. 6 as being a component that is separate and distinct
from other components of FIG. 6, implementations are not limited
thereto, and the memory 2070 may represent a collection of
different memory elements that are implemented in different
components of FIG. 6.
[0234] The mobile terminal 2000 also includes one or more
processors, such as controller 2080, which functions to control
overall operation of the mobile terminal 2000, in addition to the
operations associated with the application programs. The controller
2080 may provide or process information or functions appropriate
for a user by processing signals, data, information and the like,
which are input or output by the various components depicted in
FIG. 6, or activating application programs stored in the memory
2070.
[0235] As one example, the controller 2080 controls some or all of
the components illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C according to the
execution of an application program that have been stored in the
memory 2070. Although the controller 2080 is shown in FIG. 6 as
being a component that is separate and distinct from other
components of FIG. 6, implementations are not limited thereto, and
the controller 2080 may represent a collection of different
processors that are implemented in different components of FIG.
6.
[0236] The mobile terminal 2000 also includes a power supply unit
2090 that is configured to receive external power or provide
internal power in order to supply appropriate power required for
operating elements and components included in the mobile terminal
2000. In some implementations the power supply unit 2090 may
include a battery, and the battery may be configured to be embedded
in the terminal body, or configured to be detachable from the
terminal body.
[0237] Various implementations described herein may be implemented
in a computer-readable medium, a machine-readable medium, or
similar medium using, for example, software, hardware, or any
combination thereof.
[0238] The mobile terminal 2000 may perform operations, e.g., via
an application, that controls operations of the beverage-making
apparatus 1000 that is communicative to the mobile terminal 2000.
The mobile terminal 2000 may also exchange various types of
information with the beverage-making apparatus 1000 or various
types of information related to a beverage that is produced by the
beverage-making apparatus 1000. To perform such operations, the
mobile terminal 2000 may execute an application downloaded from a
computer, e.g., an external server, or may display interfaces that
are generated by an application that is executed remotely by a
computer.
[0239] For example, the controller 2080 of the mobile terminal 2000
may execute an installed application in response to an execution
request of the application. As another example, the controller 2080
may perform operations in response to an application being executed
remotely on a server. The controller 2080 may display various
interfaces provided from the executed application through the
display unit 2051. Examples of such operations and interfaces will
be described further below.
[0240] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operating a
mobile terminal according to an implementation.
[0241] Referring to FIG. 7, the mobile terminal 2000 may perform
operations according to an executed application, in response to an
application execution command received through the user input unit
2023 or the like, and be connected to the beverage-making apparatus
1000, based on the executed application (S100). The application may
be installed and executed on the mobile terminal 2000 or may be
executed remotely and cause the mobile terminal 2000 to perform the
resulting operations.
[0242] The application may correspond to an application that
provides a function of remotely controlling one or more operations
of the beverage-making apparatus 1000 using the mobile terminal
2000, or providing a user with various information related to a
state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, or providing various
information related to other aspects of the beverage-making
apparatus 1000.
[0243] If an execution command of the application installed in the
mobile terminal 2000 is received, the controller 2080 of the mobile
terminal 2000 may execute the application and be connected to the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 through the application.
[0244] For example, the mobile terminal 2000 and the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 may be connected via any suitable
communication mechanism, e.g., wirelessly through Wi-Fi or
Bluetooth, and the connection manner between the mobile terminal
2000 and the beverage-making apparatus 1000 is not limited to any
particular communication technology or protocol.
[0245] The mobile terminal 2000 may receive beverage-making state
information of the beverage-making apparatus 1000 (S110).
[0246] If the mobile terminal 2000 and the beverage-making
apparatus 1000 are connected to each other, the controller 2080 of
the mobile terminal 2000 may receive beverage-making state
information from the beverage-making apparatus 1000. The controller
109 of the beverage-making apparatus 1000 may generate the
beverage-making state information, based on an operation state of
the beverage-making apparatus 1000, and transmit the generated
beverage-making state information to the mobile terminal 2000.
[0247] The beverage-making state information may include
information related to whether the beverage-making apparatus 1000
is currently performing a beverage-making operation. For example,
the beverage-making state information may include any one state
among a state prior to making of a beverage, a state during making
of the beverage, or a state after making of the beverage.
[0248] In some implementations, the operation state of the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 may be divided into a state in which
the beverage is being made and a state in which the beverage is not
being made. In this case, the state in which the beverage is not
being made may include a state prior to making of the beverage and
a state after making of the beverage. In addition, when the
operation state is a state during making of the beverage, the
mobile terminal 2000 may also receive, e.g., as part of the
beverage-making state information, information regarding a type (or
name, ingredient information, etc.) of the beverage being made, and
information regarding a beverage-making state (e.g., a
beverage-making progress degree, a beverage-making process, a
temperature, a carbonic acid amount, etc.) of the beverage. As
such, the beverage-making state information may include not only
information regarding an operation state of the beverage-making
apparatus 1000, but also other information regarding the
beverage-making apparatus 1000.
[0249] The mobile terminal 2000 may provide various types of
content to be provided to the user, based on the received
beverage-making state information (S120). For example, the
controller 2080 of the mobile terminal 2000 may generate different
types of content, based on beverage-making state information
received from the beverage-making apparatus 1000, such as operation
states of the beverage-making apparatus 1000.
[0250] Step S120 will be described in more detail with reference to
FIGS. 8A and 8B.
[0251] FIGS. 8A and 8B are flowcharts illustrating examples of
operations in which the mobile terminal generates content, based on
an operation state of the beverage-making apparatus, according to
some implementations.
[0252] The example shown in FIG. 8A illustrates a scenario in which
an operation state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, which is
included in beverage-making state information, is divided into a
state in which the beverage is being made and a state in which the
beverage is not being made.
[0253] Referring to FIG. 8A, the mobile terminal 2000 may determine
an operation state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, based on
the beverage-making state information received from the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 (S121).
[0254] When the determined operation state is the state in which
the beverage is being made (YES of S122), the mobile terminal 2000
may generate different contents according to the type of beverage
being made through the beverage-making apparatus 1000 (S123).
[0255] For example, the controller 2080 may receive information on
a type of the beverage being made or ingredient information from
the beverage-making apparatus 1000. The controller 2080 may
generate content, based on the received information. For example,
the controller 2080 may generate content including information
regarding food that is matched to (e.g., harmonized with) the
beverage being made, based on the type of the beverage being
made.
[0256] On the other hand, when the determined operation state is
the state in which the beverage is not being made (NO of S122), the
mobile terminal 2000 may generate content, based on information
stored in the mobile terminal 2000 or information received from a
server connected to the mobile terminal 2000 (S124). In this case,
the generated content may be various types of content, such as a
content for guiding the beverage-making process of the beverage
using the beverage-making apparatus 1000 or a content related to a
user review of the beverage that is made, or a beverage-making
history, etc. Examples of the content generated in step S124 may
correspond to contents generated in steps S126 and S129 of 8B,
respectively.
[0257] The example of FIG. 8B illustrates a scenario in which the
operation state of the beverage-making apparatus, which is included
in the beverage-making state information, is a state prior to
making of the beverage, a state during making of the beverage, or a
state after making of the beverage. For example, the state in which
the beverage is not being made, which is described in FIG. 8A, may
be a state prior to making of the beverage or a state after making
of the beverage. In some implementations, the operation state may
be categorized in more detail. In addition, when the operation
state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000 is the state in which
the beverage is being made, the beverage-making state information
may further include information regarding a current beverage-making
process (e.g., a primary fermenting process, a secondary fermenting
process, a ripening process, etc.).
[0258] Referring to FIG. 8B, the mobile terminal 2000 may determine
an operation state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, based on
the beverage-making state information received from the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 (S121).
[0259] When the determined operation state is a state prior to
making of the beverage (YES of S125), the mobile terminal 2000 may
generate a first content for guiding the user to perform the making
of the beverage, based on schedule information or event information
registered to the user (S126).
[0260] For example, when the operation state of the beverage-making
apparatus 1000 is a state prior to making of the beverage, the
controller 2080 of the mobile terminal 2000 may acquire a schedule
of the user, which is stored through a schedule application or the
like of the mobile terminal 2000 or of a remote server. When a
schedule (e.g., a party, sports game, etc.) of a specific category
is found, the controller 2080 may generate a first content for
guiding the user, for example to make a beverage prior to the date
of the corresponding schedule using the beverage-making apparatus
1000, based on the acquired schedule of the user.
[0261] In some implementations, the controller 2080 may receive
event information from a server or various web servers. The event
information may correspond to a sports game, an anniversary, a
holiday, a party, or the like. The controller 2080 may generate a
first content for guiding the user to made a beverage prior to the
date of the corresponding event using the beverage-making apparatus
1000, based on the received event information.
[0262] On the other hand, when the determined operation state is a
state during making of the beverage (YES of S127), the mobile
terminal 2000 may generate a second content related to the beverage
currently being made (S128).
[0263] For example, when the operation state of the beverage-making
apparatus 1000 is a state during making of the beverage, the mobile
terminal 2000 may receive information on a type (or name,
ingredient, etc.) of the beverage being made and beverage-making
state information including a beverage-making state (e.g., a
beverage-making progress degree, a beverage-making process, a
temperature, a carbonic acid amount, etc.) of the beverage.
[0264] Information regarding the beverage may be determined by the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 and conveyed to the mobile terminal
2000. For example, as described in FIG. 1, when the beverage
ingredient pack 12 is accommodated in the fermentation tank
assembly 11 of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, the controller
109 of the beverage-making apparatus 1000 may receive ingredient
information from the beverage ingredient pack 12, e.g., through the
communication module via wireless communications such as NFC, and
acquire information regarding the type of the beverage being made
based on the received ingredient information in the beverage
ingredient pack 12. In addition, the controller 109 may determine a
beverage-making progress degree of the beverage and a
beverage-making process, based on a beverage making time, a
temperature of the fermentation tank, a carbonic acid amount, and
the like. The controller 109 may acquire temperature information
through the temperature sensor 16, and calculated a carbonic acid
amount, based on the acquired temperature and a pressure sensed by
the pressure sensor 72.
[0265] The controller 2080 may generate a second content related to
the beverage currently being made, based on the received
beverage-making state information. For example, the generated
second content may correspond to food matched to the beverage
currently being made, a beverage-making progress degree of the
beverage, a content for guiding the generation of a schedule on the
basis of a beverage making completion data, or various contents
related to the beverage currently being made.
[0266] When the determined operation state is a state after making
of the beverage (NO of S127), the mobile terminal 2000 may generate
a third content related to a user review of the beverage, a
recommended recipe, or a recommended ingredient (S129). In an
implementation, the mobile terminal 2000 may generate and provide a
third content including a new ingredient package or promotion
information in purchase of ingredients so as to guide the user to
purchase ingredients for the beverage-making process. In an
implementation, the mobile terminal 2000 may provide a third
content related to a beverage-making history of the user and/or a
recommended recipe on the basis of a review. In some
implementations, various types of information (e.g., a user review,
a recommended recipe, a recommended ingredient, promotion
information, etc.) for generating the third content may be received
from a remote server.
[0267] As such, according to implementations described above, the
mobile terminal 2000 may generate different types of content
according to beverage-making state information received from the
beverage-making apparatus 1000, such as operation states of the
beverage-making apparatus 1000, and provide the generated contents
to the user.
[0268] Referring again to FIG. 7, the mobile terminal 2000 may
output an interface including the generated content (S130).
[0269] Hereinafter, various implementations of the interface that
is output by the mobile terminal 2000 will be described with
reference to FIGS. 9A to 14.
[0270] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating examples of first
content provided by a mobile terminal when the operation state of
the beverage-making apparatus is a state prior to making the
beverage.
[0271] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of
second content provided by the mobile terminal when the operation
state of the beverage-making apparatus is a state during making of
the beverage.
[0272] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of third
content provided by the mobile terminal when the operation state of
the beverage-making apparatus is a state after making of the
beverage.
[0273] The examples shown in FIGS. 9A to 11 illustrate scenarios in
which content provided by the mobile terminal 2000 is displayed on
an interface for purchasing recipes or ingredients for a beverage.
However, implementations are not limited thereto, and the content
of FIGS. 9A to 11 may be displayed on a separate interface other
than an interface for purchasing items.
[0274] Referring to FIG. 9A to 11, the controller 2080 may perform
various operations according to an application that is executed on
the mobile terminal 2000 or on a remote server. For example, the
controller 2080 may display, e.g., through the display unit 2051,
an interface 2100 among a plurality of interfaces provided by the
application.
[0275] The interface 2100 may include various contents (e.g., 2110
to 2114 of FIGS. 9A to 11) that are provided based on, for example,
the beverage-making state information received from the
beverage-making apparatus 1000, recommended ingredient information
2120, an expert recipe information 2130, icons 2140 for changing
the interface, a setting icon 2150 of the application, and a menu
2160 for tab switching in the interface.
[0276] The recommended ingredient information 2120 may provide
information on recommended ingredients or recommended recipes based
on, for example, purchasing orders, satisfaction degrees, grades,
etc. of users. When a request for selecting any one of the
recommended ingredients included in the recommended ingredient
information 2120 is received, the controller 2080 may provide
detailed information, a purchasing function and the like, which are
related to the selected recommended ingredient.
[0277] The expert recipe information 2130 may provide information
on recipes of experts with respect to beverage brewing. Similarly
to the recommended ingredient information 2120, when a request for
selecting any one of the recipes included in the expert recipe
information 2130 is received, the controller 2080 may provide
detailed information, a purchasing function, and the like, which
are related to the selected recipe.
[0278] The icons 2140 are used to provide functions provided by the
application of the present disclosure, respectively. For example,
the icons 2140 may include a store icon, a beverage-making icon
(e.g., brewing icon), and a review icon.
[0279] When the store icon is selected, the controller 2080 may
display the interface 2100 that provides a purchasing function of
ingredients for beverage brewing, and the like. When the
beverage-making (e.g., brewing) icon is selected, the controller
2080 may display a beverage-making interface that provides
information related to a state of the beverage-making apparatus
1000 or a state of the beverage being made. In addition, when the
review icon is selected, the controller 2080 may display a review
interface that provides a function of registering reviews of the
beverage, a function of reading reviews registered by users, and
the like.
[0280] The menu 2160 included in the interface 2100 may be used to
provide a purchasing function of ingredients for making a beverage
in various manners. For example, the menu 2160 may include a
recommendation tab of FIG. 9A and an all items tab of FIG. 9A. When
the recommendation tab is selected, the controller 2080 may display
an interface that provides information on recommended ingredients
based on purchasing orders, grades, etc. of users or recipes
registered by experts. The interface 2100 shown in FIG. 9A may be
an interface provided when the recommendation tab is selected.
[0281] In the example of FIG. 9A, when the "All Items" tab is
selected, the controller 2080 may display an interface including a
list of ingredients currently being sold. The user may directly
select and purchase ingredients to be purchased, based on the list
included in the displayed interface.
[0282] Referring to FIGS. 9A to 11, the interface 2100 may include
first contents 2110/2111 of FIGS. 9A/9B, or second contents
2112/2113 of FIGS. 10A/10B, or third contents 2114 of FIG. 11. The
contents 2110 to 2114, analogous to what was described in FIGS. 7
and 8, may be contents generated based on beverage-making state
information received from the beverage-making apparatus 1000.
[0283] The controller 2080 may determine an operation state of the
beverage-making apparatus 1000, based on the beverage-making state
information. When the determined operation state is a state prior
to making the beverage, the controller 2080 may generate a first
content for guiding the user to perform the beverage-making
process. The first content may be generated based on a schedule of
the user or various event information.
[0284] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate two possible examples of first
content that is displayed when the beverage-making apparatus 1000
is in an operation state prior to making the beverage.
[0285] Referring to FIG. 9A, the controller 2080 may generate a
first content 2110, based on an upcoming sports event schedule that
is acquired e.g., from a schedule application of the user or from a
remote server. When the first content 2110 is generated, the
controller 2080 may generate the first content 2110 using a date of
the sports game schedule, and a beverage ingredient purchase
history of the user. That is, the controller 2080 may display the
first content 2110, to guide the user to perform the
beverage-making process suitable for the date of the sports game
schedule using purchased ingredients.
[0286] If the controller 2080 receives a request for selecting the
first content 2110, then the controller 2080 may display detailed
information on a schedule corresponding to the first content 2110,
provide information related to making a beverage related to the
first content 2110, or provide a purchasing function of a beverage
recipe package related to the first content 2110.
[0287] FIG. 9B illustrates another example of first content that is
displayed when the beverage-making apparatus 1000 is in an
operation state prior to making the beverage.
[0288] Referring to FIG. 9B, the controller 2080 may generate a
first content 2111, e.g., based on a home party schedule acquired
from the schedule application of the user. The controller 2080 may
display the generated first content 2111, to guide the user to
perform a beverage-making process that is suitable for the home
party schedule. In some implementations, when a request for
selecting the first content 2111 is received, the controller 2080
may display detailed information on the home party schedule
corresponding to the first content 2111.
[0289] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate two possible examples of second
content that is displayed when the beverage-making apparatus 1000
is in an operation state during making of the beverage.
[0290] In relation to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the controller 2080 may
determine an operation state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000,
based on beverage-making state information received from the
beverage-making apparatus 1000. When the determined operation state
is a state that is during a beverage-making process, the controller
2080 may generate a second content including information related to
beverage being made. The second content may include various types
of information, e.g., regarding food matched to the beverage being
made or information related to the beverage itself being made.
[0291] Referring to FIG. 10A, the beverage-making state information
transmitted from the beverage-making apparatus 1000 to the mobile
terminal 2000 may include information on a type (or name,
ingredient, etc.) of beverage currently being made. The controller
2080 may acquire information on food matched to the beverage being
made, based on the information on the type of the beverage, which
is included in the received beverage-making state information. For
example, the controller 2080 may transmit information regarding the
type of the beverage currently being made to a remote server, and
receive information on food matched to the type of the beverage
from the server. In some implementations, the controller 2080 may
also acquire information regarding the food that was matched to the
type of the beverage, e.g., among information regarding a plurality
of different foods stored in the memory 2070 of the mobile terminal
2000 or on a remote server. In this case, the food matched to the
type of the beverage may include food harmonized with the beverage
currently being made.
[0292] In the example of FIG. 10A, the controller 2080 may generate
a second content 2112 including the acquired food information, and
display the generated content 2112 through the display unit 2051.
Through the displayed second content 2112, the user can
conveniently acquire information on food matched to the beverage
currently being made.
[0293] FIG. 10B illustrates another example of second content that
is displayed when the beverage-making apparatus 1000 is in an
operation state during making of the beverage.
[0294] Referring to FIG. 10B, the controller 2080 may provide
information on a beverage currently being made, based on ingredient
information of the beverage, which is included in the received
beverage-making state information. For example, the controller 2080
may receive, e.g., from a remote server, information on reviews,
evaluations, grades, etc. of users with respect to the beverage
currently being made, and provide the received information. In some
implementations, the user may arbitrarily combine ingredients
(e.g., in the scenario of making beer, combining ingredients of
wort, yeast, hops, and flavor additives) for the beverage-making
process, and made the beverage using the beverage-making apparatus
1000. In this case, the type of beverage currently being made by
the beverage-making apparatus may be a new type of beverage for the
user. Therefore, a review or recipe of the beverage currently being
made may not yet have been registered, e.g., saved to a server.
Accordingly, the controller 2080 may generate the second content
2113 including a message for guiding the user to share a recipe
(e.g., a combination of ingredients) of the beverage currently
being made with other users. The controller 2080 may display the
generated second content 2113 through the display unit 2051, to
guide the user to register the recipe of the beverage currently
being made.
[0295] In some implementations, when a request for selecting the
displayed second content 2113 is received, the controller 2080 may
display a recipe registration interface for registering the recipe
of the beverage currently being made. The controller 2080 may
register recipe information input based on the recipe registration
interface, e.g., by saving the recipe information to a remote
server.
[0296] FIG. 11 illustrates an example of third content that is
displayed when the beverage-making apparatus 1000 is in an
operation state that is after making of the beverage.
[0297] Referring to FIG. 11, the controller 2080 may determine an
operation state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, e.g., based
on beverage-making state information received from the
beverage-making apparatus 1000. When the determined operation state
is a state after a beverage-making process has completed, then the
controller 2080 may generate third content 2114 different from the
above-described first and second contents.
[0298] The third content 2114 may include various types of content
related to the completely-made beverage, such as content for
registering reviews of the beverage made by the beverage-making
apparatus 1000, content including a new ingredient, a recommended
ingredient, discount information, or the like, which guide
purchasing of beverage ingredients, content including a
beverage-making history, or content including recommended recipes
based on the beverage-making history.
[0299] The example of FIG. 11 illustrates third content 2114
including information on a new ingredient. When a request for
selecting the displayed third content 2114 is received, the
controller 2080 may provide detailed information on the new
ingredient or a purchasing function of the new ingredient. That is,
the controller 2080 may guide the user to purchase the new
ingredient by providing the user with the information on the new
ingredient after the beverage has been made using the
beverage-making apparatus 1000.
[0300] FIGS. 12 to 14 are diagrams illustrating examples of content
interfaces provided by the mobile terminal 2000 that provide
information regarding an operation state of the beverage-making
apparatus 1000.
[0301] Unlike the examples of content shown in FIGS. 9A to 11 that
displayed interfaces for purchasing recipes or ingredients for a
beverage, FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate examples in which the
controller 2080 of the mobile terminal 2000 displays a separate
interface (hereinafter, referred to as a `content interface`)
configured with contents that are generated based on an operation
state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000.
[0302] The controller 2080 may receive beverage-making state
information from the beverage-making apparatus 1000, and determine
an operation state of the beverage-making apparatus 1000, based on
the received beverage-making state information. When the determined
operation state is a state prior to making the beverage, the
controller 2080 may display a content interface 2200 including a
first content through the display unit 2051. Analogous to what was
described in FIG. 8, the first content may correspond to a content
for guiding the beverage-making process, based on a schedule of the
user or various event information.
[0303] Referring to the implementation shown in FIG. 12, the
controller 2080 may display, through the display unit 2051, a
content interface 2200 including a content 2211 including
information on a recent beverage-making date, a content 2212
including a message for guiding the user to perform beverage-making
based on the date of a schedule or event, a content 2213 for event
information, and a content 2214 for a recommended ingredient or
recommended recipe related to the event.
[0304] Particularly, in relation to the content 2212, the
controller 2080 may calculate a beverage-making start term of a
beverage so as to complete beverage-making of the beverage before a
schedule or event is started, based on the start date and current
date of the schedule or event. The controller 2080 may provide a
content 2212 including information on the calculated
beverage-making start term. When the user starts the making of the
beverage using the beverage-making apparatus 1000 before the
beverage-making start term, the beverage-making apparatus 1000 may
complete the beverage-making of the beverage before the schedule or
event is started.
[0305] On the other hand, when the operation state of the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 is a state during a beverage-making
process, the controller 2080 may display a content interface 2200
including a second content through the display unit 2051. As
described in FIG. 8, the second content may correspond to a
beverage-making progress degree of beverage, food matched to the
beverage being made, a content for guiding the generation of a
schedule based on a beverage-making date, or various contents
related to the beverage currently being made.
[0306] Referring to the implementation shown in FIG. 13, the
controller 2080 may display, through the display unit 2051, a
content interface 2200 including a content 2221 including a
beverage-making progress degree of beverage being made by the
beverage-making apparatus 1000 and a content 2222 for food matched
to the beverage being made.
[0307] The content 2221 may include information on a type or name
of the beverage currently being made and information on a
beverage-making completion date, a current beverage-making process,
and a beverage-making progress degree.
[0308] The content 2222, as described in FIG. 10A, may include food
information received from the server or acquired from the memory
2070, based on the type of the beverage currently being made. The
food information may be information on food matched to the beverage
currently being made.
[0309] Based on the contents 2221 and 2222 included in the content
interface 2200, the user can conveniently check a beverage-making
progress state of the beverage currently being made by the
beverage-making apparatus 1000, and acquire information on food
matched to (harmonized with) the beverage being made.
[0310] When the operation state of the beverage-making apparatus
1000 is a state after completion of a beverage-making process, the
controller 2080 may display a content interface 2200 including a
third content through the display unit 2051. Analogous to what was
described in FIG. 8, the third content may correspond to a content
for providing a review registering function of the completed
beverage, a content related to a beverage-making history of the
user, a content including a recommended recipe based on the
beverage-making history, or a content including new ingredient
information or promotion information for guiding the user to
purchase beverage ingredients.
[0311] Referring to the implementation shown in FIG. 14, the
controller 2080 may display, through the display unit 2051, a
content interface 2200 including a content 2231 on preference
beverage information acquired from a beverage-making history of the
user and a content 2232 of a recommended recipe based on the
beverage-making history.
[0312] Based on the contents 2231 and 2232 included in the content
interface 2200, the user can effectively acquire information on
beverage to be made using the beverage-making apparatus 1000.
[0313] The present disclosure described above may be implemented as
a computer-readable code in a medium in which a program is
recorded. The computer-readable medium includes any type of
recording device in which data that can be read by a computer
system is stored. The computer-readable medium may be, for example,
a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a silicon disk
drive (SDD), a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy
disk, an optical data storage device, and the like. The
computer-readable medium also includes implementations in the form
of carrier waves (e.g., transmission via the Internet).
[0314] Suitable processors for the execution of a program of
instructions include, by way of example, both general and special
purpose microprocessors, and the sole processor or one of multiple
processors of any kind of computer. Generally, a processor will
receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random
access memory or both. The elements of a computer are a processor
for executing instructions and one or more memories for storing
instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or
be operatively coupled to communicate with, one or more mass
storage devices for storing data files; such devices include
magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks;
magneto-optical disks; and optical disks.
[0315] The features can be implemented in a computer system that
includes a back-end component, such as a data server, or that
includes a middleware component, such as an application server or
an Internet server, or that includes a front-end component, such as
a client computer having a graphical user interface or an Internet
browser, or any combination of them. The components of the system
can be connected by any form or medium of digital data
communication such as a communication network. Examples of
communication networks include, e.g., a LAN, a WAN, and the
computers and networks forming the Internet.
[0316] The computer system can include clients and servers. A
client and server are generally remote from each other and
typically interact through a network, such as the described one.
The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer
programs running on the respective computers and having a
client-server relationship to each other.
[0317] The processes and operations described herein, such as those
that generate and operate the user interfaces, may be executed
entirely by a user's mobile terminal (e.g., mobile terminal 2000)
executing an installed application, or may be executed entirely by
a server system that remotely hosts the application, or may be
executed by any combination of user-side and server-side
processing.
[0318] The foregoing implementations are merely exemplary and are
not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. This
description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the
scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The
features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the
exemplary implementations described herein may be combined in
various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary
implementations.
[0319] As the present features may be implemented in several forms
without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also
be understood that the above-described implementations are not
limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless
otherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within
its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all
changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of
the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds, are therefore
intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
* * * * *